EGGS IN THE HUMAN DIET - FACTS AND CHALLENGES

Eggs are a good source of balanced nutritional and biologically active substances - proteins, lipids, some irreplaceable nutritional components such as amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, macro- and microelements, etc. It is identified as the cheapest animal source of proteins, lipids, vitamins A, B12, riboflavin, choline, iron, zinc, phosphorus and calcium. At the same time, the dangers to human health that eggs can carry are also taken into account. Material/Methods: The literature used is based on databases PubMed, Embase and as well as data from own studies. Review Results: In the present review, we provide data on the importance of the composition of eggs in human nutrition are presented and the risk of their use is evaluated. Conclusions: The high biological and nutritional value of eggs are grounds for their use in the daily life of healthy people, without additional restrictions of cardiovascular diseases. There is a risk of food poisoning, which can be limited to acceptable levels by following good hygiene practices

Contemporary challenges of warty carcinoma of cervix - Our experience and review of literature

BackgroundWarty carcinoma of the cervix is a rare subtype of squamous cell carcinoma. In general, it is not as aggressive as the other subtypes, and has a better prognosis.AimsThe aim of this study was to investigate overall and recurrence-free survival rate in patients with Warty carcinoma of the cervix.MethodsDuring the ten year period (2008–2017) in the Clinic of Gynaecologic oncology at the UMHAT - Pleven, Bulgaria were operated 714 cases with cervical cancer, 14 of which were histologically confirmed as a Warty carcinoma. Patients were investigated by retro- and prospective analysis for overall and recurrence-free survival rate.ResultsWarty carcinoma accounts for 1.94 per cent of all cervical carcinomas, operated in the clinic. The mean age of the patients was 48 years, ranging from 29–72 years. According to the FIGO staging systems for cervix, patients were staged as follows: in stage IB1 – 43 per cent and in stage IB2 – 57 per cent. Despite the high percentage of locally advanced process, only in one case out of all the patients there was local spreading of the lesion towards the uterine cavity and in one case there were metastases in the pelvic lymph nodes. Lymphovascular space invasion was not seen in any patient, and neither were perineural or perivascular invasion.ConclusionThis report highlights a favourable course and good prognosis of Warty carcinoma of the cervix. It is necessary to reconsider the aggressive surgical treatment and subsequent chemotherapy in women with Warty carcinoma of the cervix

Severe Leptospirosis Observed in a Man Who Had Just Returned from Abroad

Leptospirosis, a re-emerging zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira, has a low incidence in Bulgaria. This paper reports a case of leptospirosis in Pleven, Bulgaria, in which the subject was infected after wading through irrigative canal in northern Greece. Two days later, he had a fever, myalgia and vomiting followed by jaundice, darkness of urine and oliguria. The patient was admitted to Clinic of Infectious Diseases at University Hospital-Pleven after returning to Bulgaria. The history and laboratory findings suggested icterohaemorrhagic leptospirosis. Penicillin G was prescribed and intensive supportive treatment was initiated. Dialysis was performed two hours after admission and was followed by poliuric stage of acute renal failure (peak urine output 16 600 mL/day). Microaglutination test (MAT) for sero-diagnosis was positive (L. hardjo 1:1600, L. icterohaemorrhagiae 1:800). The patient was discharged after sixteen days with improved renal and liver functions. In conclusion, The probability of leptospirosis should not be ignored in patients with fever after returning from abroad. The prompt dialysis and adequate treatment improve prognosis

Seroprevalence of IgG Antibodies against Mumps in Bulgarian Children under 18 Years of Age

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against mumps in a representative stratified sample of children under 18 years of age in Pleven district, Bulgaria. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, sero-epidemiologic survey of 132 children aged under 18 years was conducted in Pleven district. They were distributed into two age groups: from 0 to 11 years old (n=80) and from 12 to 18 years old (n=52). An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was performed for indirect evidence of specific IgG antibodies in the serum. Results: The results showed that 41% of the investigated children were negative in terms of mumps IgG antibodies, 11% had borderline values and the remaining, approximately 48%, were positive. In the group of children aged 0 to 11 years who had received one dose of the mumps vaccine, 50% were negative for mumps IgG antibodies. In the second group of children aged 12 to 18 years who had received two vaccine doses, the percentage of participants negative for mumps IgG antibodies decreased significantly. Conclusion: Our observations emphasise the need to conduct expanded sero-epidemiological investigations of the populations most affected by mumps and to immunise susceptible individuals

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PANDEMICS HIV/AIDS AND COVID-19

During recent four decades, the world has faced two horrific, deadly pandemics. In the background of the ongoing pandemic HIV/AIDS, the people were affected with the newly emerging Corona virus SARS-CoV-2, that rapidly turned into pandemic dimensions. There are data that, in various aspects, HIV infection was similar to SARS-CoV-2. The purpose of this review was to search for similarities and differences between both pandemics in view to use the experience of the past and knowledge we have acquired in order to better overcome current and future pandemics. Material/Methods: The iterature used is based on databases PubMed, Embase and random search on the Internet with the keywords COVID-19 and HIV, as well the Boolean operator "AND" to achieve a search of "COVID-19 and HIV". Review Results: In the present review summary, we provide data for similarities and differences regarding virological, immunologic, clinical and pharmacological aspects of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 infections and associated with them pandemics. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 was here and will remain here. COVID-19 is not the last pandemic, and people should be prepared for new encounters with agents of high virulence and pandemic potential

STUDY ON SEROPREVALENCE OF MUMPS - SPECIFIC IgG ANTIBODIES IN A HEALTHY POPULATION

Mumps is a vaccine preventable viral infection. Its typical clinical manifestations are characterized by pain and swelling of the salivary glands, fever, and fatigue. Often other organs are affected - testes in males after puberty (orchitis), ovaries in women (ooforitis), pancreas (pancreatitis), central nervous system (meningities). The use of specific immune prophylaxis led to a significant success in the fight against mumps, but there are still unresolved issues related to the immunological and epidemiological effectiveness of the vaccines. The disease continues to interest researchers today. The main issues being tackled are related to the conduct of virological, clinical and sero-epidemiological studies in different countries. Objectives of the study is to determine the frequency distribution of mumps-specific IgG antibodies in healthy populations in the region of Pleven, Bulgaria. Methods: a cross-sectional sero - epidemiological representative population - based survey in the area was made. Enzyme immunoassay method was used for an indirect proof of mumps - specific IgG serum antibodies. 410 people were examined at an average age of 25 (1 to 84). Of these, 250 (61 %) were women and 160 (39 %) - men. Results: Of all test results, the negative were 72 (19 %), the borderline were 12 (3 %), the positive were 182 (44 %), and highly positive were 144 (35 %). The vaccination status showed that 242 (69 %) of all surveyed were immunized with a vaccine against mumps. According to the immunization schedule in Bulgaria, 132 (33 %) people were immunized with monovaccine during the years - 1 intake, 80 (20 %) with trivaccine - 1 intake, and 64 (16 %) - 2 doses. Conclusion: We believe that despite the specific immunprophylaxis carried out against mumps decades on end, the necessary level of protection leading to its elimination has not yet been reached

CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON SYPHILIS AMONG MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN

Purpose of the study: To investigate demographics, prevalence, risk factors and the different clinical forms and symptoms of syphilis in men who have sex with men (MSM). Material/Methods: 50 MSM with syphilis were registered at the Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology in the city of Pleven, Bulgaria, for the period 2008-2022. The diagnosis was confirmed by serological tests. Patients were distributed by their socio-demographic status. Risk factors and sexual behavior were studied, as well as clinical symptoms and co-morbidities of syphilis. Results: Of 50 MSM patients the most affected is the age between 20-29 years (54%). 34% of them are university graduates, 88% abused alcohol, nicotine and drugs in combination, 70% had sexual contacts with a casual partner, 26% of them had HIV co-infection. Secondary and early latent syphilis are the most common clinical forms of the disease (34%). The typical symptoms of primary and secondary syphilis were clinically manifested, 34% of them are localized in the genital. There is a significant correlation of the clinical form with the localization of the skin-mucosal lesions (p < 0.001). Antibiotic therapy is effective and leads to negative serological test results by the end of the second year of treatment. Conclusions: For 15 years (2008-2022), the number of registered MSM with syphilis in the Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology in Pleven increased after 2016 especialy in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results are close to the published data on the problem in the scientific literature for the last 10 years

Estimation of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) Populations of Kaylaka Park in the Town of Pleven, Bulgaria

(1) Background: Ticks are vectors of a large number of pathogenic microorganisms, which cause serious diseases in both humans and animals. Kaylaka Park is located in northern Bulgaria close to the city of Pleven. Part of the park is urbanized and visited daily by many citizens. The aim of our study was to determine the presence and distribution of hard ticks in the park area by surveying and comparing four urbanized with four wild areas. (2) Methods: Ticks were collected by flagging from 2016 to 2020 during the spring–summer season (March–July). Air temperature, relative humidity, collection time and flagging area were measured during the campaign. (3) Results: A total of 622 ticks were collected: 285 females (46%), 272 (44%) males and 64 (10%) nymphs. All were identified as Ixodes ricinus. Wild areas showed statistically significant higher values of ticks collected per minute (p = 0.009) and nymph densities (p = 0.003) compared to urbanized sampling sites. Other densities indices did not have a significant difference between urban and wild areas. Highest numbers of Ixodes ticks were collected at a temperature of 20 °C and at 60% relative humidity. The active questing began in March, peaked in end of April and declined in June. (4) Conclusions: In the present study, we found that ecological factors in the Kaylaka Park area are favourable for the development and distribution of tick populations. The results give us reason to consider that there is a high risk to visitors from tick bites in the Kaylaka Park area

Sero-epidemiological study of Lyme disease susceptible persons in the Pleven region

Introduction: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the leading vector-born infection in the region of Pleven and the second most registered disease in Bulgaria for the last ten years. The causative agent Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks. The aim of the study is to analyse the results of serological tests and epidemiological data of people who have been bitten by a tick.Materials and Methods: A retrospective epidemiological assay has been conducted for a period of one year (2017). The data of the serological tests, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Immu­noglobulin M (IgM), and Immunoglobulin G (IgG), and Western Blot IgM and Western Blot IgG, which were done in Regional Health Inspection - Pleven (RHI) and the epidemiological information from the questionnaires of research participants has been analysed. There were in total 59 people, aged 2 to 84-years-old (average 49 years) among which 34 (57.6%) were males and 25 (42.4%) - females.Results: The questionnaire has been filled by 39 people. The analysis of the data shows exposure to ticks in 38/39 (97.4%) of the respondents. The greatest number of tick bites has been registered during the months of June (12), July (15) and September (10). The serological tests showed that 38 (69%) from IgM examined people were positive and 3 (25%) from IgG examined people were positive. The West­ern Blot test was positive for IgM in 9/21 and for IgG in 1/3.Conclusion: The disease has an acute or chronic-recurrent progression. In order to be diagnosed and registered according to `Regulation 21/18.07.2015 on the order of registration, reporting and ac­counting of contagious diseases` correct interpretation of the laboratory tests and the clinical and ep­idemiological data of people susceptible for LB is required

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus type 16 IgG antibodies in people who have visited the cabinet for sexually transmitted diseases

Introduction: High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes 16, 18, 31, 33 are oncogenic types that are connected to the development of cervical cancer in 80-90% of the cases. They are also etiolog­ically connected to anorectal cancer (40-90%) and oropharyngeal cancer (30-40%) in men and wom­en. HPV16 is the most common type in Bulgaria. One of the risk factors associated with the acquisi­tion of genital HPV infection is the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The aim of the study is to determine the distribution of specific Immunoglobulin G antibodies (IgG) of HPV16 in people who have visited the Cabinet for STDs in University hospital `Dr. Georgi Stranski`, Pleven.Materials and Methods: A seroepidemiological study of 25 people who have visited the Cabinet for sexually transmitted diseases at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at University hos­pital, Pleven has been conducted for a one month period. HPV16 L1-capsides (HPV16L1) IgG anti­body, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, CUSABIO® has been applied. Twenty-five se­rum samples from people from 17 to 55-years-old have been analyzed. Three (12%) of them were male and 22 (88%) were female.Results: The results show that 18 (72%) of the analyzed are seropositive. Women are predominant - 16 (80%), compared to men - 9 (20%). Of all the seropositive 10 (56%) also have concurrent sexual­ly transmitted diseases - syphilis (n=4), chlamydiasis (n=2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (n=3), condylomata acuminata (n=1).Conclusion: The discovery of seropositive people to oncogenic types of HPV as well as the presence of other STDs is a good reason for additional screening test to be conducted and prophylactic and ade­quate therapeutic measures to be taken